Abstract
In a rapidly evolving digital society, broadband connectivity is increasingly critical. Everyday experiences are mediated by technology, be they related to work, education, leisure or health care; technology impacts at many levels. Access to broadband Internet is considered to be essential to contemporary society. Despite this growing recognition, broadband access is still not ubiquitous across all of the UK, with access being particularly problematic in remote rural areas. This paper considers the role of broadband in the economic and social sustainability of remote rural places. During research which explored the use of broadband and its applications amongst small rural business owners located across rural Scotland, qualitative in-depth interviews explored how interviewees used the Internet in the development of and sustainability of their business activities as well as exploring other forms of use such as those relating to education, leisure and social participation. The findings reveal how broadband access and use can impact on rural business owners, and subsequently contribute to the sustainability of life in remote rural Scotland.
Highlights
Remote rural communities suffer disadvantages associated with their distance from urban centres.1 Broadband can alleviate these disadvantages by connecting people, places, businesses and services irrespective of the physical location
During research which explored the use of broadband and its applications amongst small rural business owners located across rural Scotland, qualitative in-depth interviews explored how interviewees used the Internet in the development of and sustainability of their business activities as well as exploring other forms of use such as those relating to education, leisure and social participation
Our analysis is structured in two parts which directly address the themes of the paper in relation to remote rural places – firstly, the role of broadband Internet; secondly, the impacts of connectivity on remote rural places
Summary
Remote rural communities suffer disadvantages associated with their distance from urban centres. Broadband can alleviate these disadvantages by connecting people, places, businesses and services irrespective of the physical location. Remote rural communities suffer disadvantages associated with their distance from urban centres.1 Broadband can alleviate these disadvantages by connecting people, places, businesses and services irrespective of the physical location. The most recent report published by Ofcom (the UK Communications regulator) noted that only 80% of households in the UK have Internet access, this figure includes those who have chosen not to adopt the technology alongside those who cannot (Ofcom 2013). This problem is not just UK based; many still lack access across Europe, frequently those in rural areas (European Commission 2009). Despite the efforts of the UK Government (BDUK 2011), the ‘digital divide’ is widening; as urban areas benefit from ever-improving infrastructure, rural areas more often than not are left behind, leaving them disadvantaged and unable to compete in an increasingly digitally connected commercial world (Townsend et al 2013)
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